Bundesliga clubs went on a last-minute signing spree, with Hamburger SV adding five new players before the transfer deadline expired at midnight Monday.
Other clubs were also active, with Bayer Leverkusen releasing striker Fanis Gekas, the Bundesliga's top scorer two seasons ago, on loan to Portsmouth and taking on fellow Greece striker Angelos Charisteas from second-division team FC Nuremberg.
Hamburger SV spent some money earned from the release of Nigel de Jong to Manchester City on players largely unknown in the Bundesliga. Two midfielders joined the club, Mikael Tavares from Slavia Prague, who was born on Cape Verde and has French citizenship, and Venezuela's Tomas Rincon.
Another midfielder, Albert Streit from Schalke, came on loan until the end of the season. Denmark defender Michael Gravgaard was signed on loan from Nantes to replace Bastian Reinhardt, who broke his foot Friday in the 1-0 win over Bayern Munich. Hamburg is third in the Bundesliga.
Also joining the club was Moroccan goalkeeper Khalid Sinouh, who was without a contract after playing for several Dutch clubs. Hamburg's Dutch coach, Martin Jol, once coached the Moroccan at RKC Waalwijk.
Last week, Hamburg also signed Marcel Ndjeng, who had been cut by Borussia Moenchenglabach after a falling out with coach Hans Meyer.
Tavares received a 3 1/2-year contract. Rincon signed a one-year deal, with an option for the contract to be extended until 2013.
Hamburg also released two players on loan, including Brazil midfielder Thiago Neves, who was sent to Fluminese. Neves made only six appearances for Hamburg after arriving six months ago.
Anis Ben-Hatira was sent to second-division club Duisburg.
Leverkusen also added teenager Toni Kroos on loan from Bayern Munich. Gekas could not establish himself next to Patrick Helmes and Stefan Kiessling and Charisteas was likely to be backup.
The club also signed two backup goalkeepers, Gabor Kiraly from Burnley and VfL Bochum's Thomas Zdebel.
By releasing Streit, Schalke got rid of a player unhappy with being benched after coming close to playing for Germany while he was still in Eintracht Frankfurt.
Schalke also allowed midfielder Fabian Ernst to leave the club and sign for Turkish team Besiktas.
Hannover, meanwhile, released Hungary midfielder Szabolcs Huszti to Zenit St. Petersburg and signed Poland international Jacek Krzynowek from Wolfsburg. It has also added Denmark midfielder Leon Andreasen from Fulham.
In another move, Werder Bremen sent newly signed Peru striker Junior Ross to second-division team FSV Frankfurt to gain experience for half a season.
Borussia Dortmund released South African striker Delron Buckley, who signed for second-division club Mainz.